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1. What should I do when I’m driving and an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens operating is behind me?

It is extremely important that a driver who sees an emergency vehicle with activated lights and sirens immediately pulls their vehicle over to the right as far as possible and comes to a complete stop. This will give the emergency vehicle adequate clearance to quickly and safely respond to an emergency call.

2. Why does a fire engine come when I call 911 for an ambulance?

All members of the Trophy Club Fire Department are licensed EMTs or paramedics. Sometimes a fire engine will come to a call to provide additional manpower for the call, and sometimes a fire engine is the closest available unit to the emergency call. Regardless of which unit shows up to a call, all staff members have the training and equipment to begin providing immediate medical care to a patient until an ambulance arrives on scene.

3. What is happening when an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens operating turns them off and slows down?

Occasionally, you may see a fire truck or an ambulance that was responding to an emergency call suddenly turn off their lights and sirens. This can happen when another unit arrived on scene and determined there was no need for other emergency vehicles, or when a dispatcher notifies responding units that the call is no longer an emergency (such as a false alarm with a fire alarm system). The Trophy Club Fire Department does not use our lights and sirens unless we are actively responding to an emergency call for service.   

4. How should I dispose of unused prescription medicines?

The Trophy Club Fire Department offers two free methods for citizens to dispose of leftover prescription medications that they no longer need. One is a packet with a powder that is added to the pill bottle with the unused medication and a little water. The combination of the powder and water creates a gel that encapsulates the pills and renders the pill bottle safe to discard with the rest of your trash. The second option is a prepaid envelope that you can place your unused medications inside of and drop in the mail. The sealed envelope is mailed directly to a facility that incinerates the envelope and the contents. 

Both of these options are available for pick-up in the lobby of the fire station at 295 Trophy Club Road. 

More information about our prescription medication disposal program is available by clicking here.

5. How come I see firefighters shopping at the grocery store?

Trophy Club Firefighters work a 48/96-hour shift schedule, which means that they arrive to work the morning of their shift and live at the fire station for the next two days. While on duty, the shift crew will all contribute money to purchase groceries to make the meals for their two-day shift. Firefighters are responsible for paying for their own meals.

6. What does a firefighter do when they aren’t responding to emergency calls?

Firefighter/paramedics stay busy throughout their shift. When they are not responding to calls, they are completing required fire and EMS training, maintaining vehicles and equipment, participating in public education programs, conducting fire/safety inspections, conducting fire preplans, cleaning the fire station, and any other activities required to ensure they are ready to respond to any type of emergency at any time. During the evening hours, firefighters are allowed to watch TV, relax, and sleep unless they are responding to an emergency call.

7. What type of fire extinguisher should I purchase for my home?

A multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher is a great option for homeowners. We recommend a minimum size of 2A:10BC which is commonly referred to as a five-pound fire extinguisher. This type of fire extinguisher is easy to use and is effective at extinguishing small fires with ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or energized equipment.

8. What should I know about smoke alarms?

Properly installed smoke alarms provide an early warning to alert homeowners when there is a fire in their home. This gives a homeowner more time to get their family out of the house, or to extinguisher the fire with a fire extinguisher if it is safe to do so. But it is important to remember that smoke alarms require regular testing and maintenance to ensure they are providing you the best level of protection. This means you should test a smoke alarm at least once a month and change the battery at least once a year. The Trophy Club Fire Department provides free smoke alarms to people who cannot afford them or cannot safely install them in their home. Just fill out this form and a member of the Trophy Club Fire Department will schedule a convenient time to come to your home and evaluate your smoke alarms.

Smoke Alarm Request Form

9. What does it mean when my smoke alarm is chirping every minute or so?

Smoke alarms have a built-in feature to alert a homeowner when the battery is dying, or the smoke alarm is nearing the end of its’ useful life. The best way to prevent this chirping is to proactively change your smoke alarm battery at least once per year and replace the smoke alarm after it has been in service for 10 years.